The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked 4,794 land titles over the alleged non-payment of ground rent, signaling a crackdown on property owners who have defaulted for years.
Ground rent is an annual fee landowners must pay to retain the right to occupy and use their land.
However, according to a statement issued on Monday by Wike’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, a staggering 8,375 property owners in Abuja’s prime districts have failed to meet this obligation in the last 43 years.
The affected districts include Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had earlier, in November 2024, published a list of alleged land title debtors, urging them to settle their outstanding bills.
Despite multiple notifications, Olayinka said many allottees ignored the warnings.
He revealed that, as of the end of 2024, the total unpaid ground rent stood at N6,967,980,119, adding that 4,794 land titles were in default for 10 years or more.
“This contravenes the terms and conditions of the grant of the rights of occupancy, in line with Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act,” the statement read.
Following the revocation, Olayinka stated that title holders who owe ground rent for periods ranging from one to 10 years have been given a 21-day grace period to make payments. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of their land titles.
The affected areas include: Central Area District (A00), Garki I (A01) and Garki II (A03), Wuse I (A02) and Wuse II (A07, A08), Asokoro (A04), Maitama (A05, A06), Guzape (A09)
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